shed light on

Idioms and Phrases

Also, throw light on . Clarify or explain, as in I was hoping the professor would shed light on how he arrived at his theory , or Can anyone throw some light on where these plants came from? Originally, from about 1200, these expressions were used literally, in the sense of “illuminate,” but they soon were used figuratively as well.

Example Sentences

A new study from researchers at Kumamoto University sheds light on a potential link between exposure to certain everyday chemicals during pregnancy and the development of asthma in children.

From Science Daily

The study sheds light on how sleep, specifically a short nap, influences brain activity associated with motor skill improvement, with implications for optimizing rehabilitation strategies.

From Science Daily

Published Wednesday in Nature's Scientific Reports, the study sheds light on an ancient Egyptian mystery: The secret of how Bes mugs were used about 2,000 years ago.

From Science Daily

The study, led by Goethe University Frankfurt, sheds light on how specific mutations may lead to the retinal disease retinitis pigmentosa.

From Science Daily

Now, a new report sheds light on why he waited until after sunset to depart.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• analyze
• clear up
• define
• formulate
• interpret
• resolve
• simplify
• spell out